Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Tasker, John Jr. April 20, 1905
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Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net August 12, 2022, 7:42 am

Lake Odessa Wave - Friday April 28. 1905

GONE TO HIS REWARD
John Tasker, who has been so seriously ill for so many weeks, died at his home 
in the village on Thursday evening, April 20th, 1905.

John Tasker was born in Laysbee, Lincolnshire, England, August 15th, 1830. He 
came to America at about the age of 14, and first settled in New York. He worked 
on a farm there for a number of years. Was married at the age of 22 to Miss 
Fannie Catt, a sister of Robert Catt of this village, and to this union there 
yet remains five children to mourn the departure of the father. The children are 
John, Charles, George, and William Tasker, well to-do farmers of this section of 
the country, and Mrs.R.Phillips, of Grand Rapids.

After the marriage Mr.Tasker continued his work in one of the largest flouring 
mills in the Empire state, in which he was head miller for a number of years. He 
refused the position of foreman in one of the large feed stores in city of 
Rochester, thinking farm a better place for his children than the city. He moved 
with his family to Michigan in 1869. Mrs Tasker died shortly after they moved to 
Michigan, leaving the husband and his large family of children alone.

He was afterwards married to Miss Mary Collier of Sunfield, Michigan, and to 
this union there remains, five children and the widow to survive the passing of 
father and husband. The five children being, Mrs. Will C. Haynes and Edith 
Tasker of Grand Rapids, and Frank, Elmer and Walter Tasker, well known young men 
of this vicinity and village. All of the children were present at the funeral, 
and the remains of the father were carried to their last resting place by six of 
his sons, John, Charles, George, Will, Frank and Elmer.

The funeral was held from the Congregational church in this village on Sunday 
afternoon at two o'clock, and the last sad rites were preformed by Rev. Isaac 
Mourer, an old friend, associate and pastor of the departed, assisted by Rev. 
Skentelbury of this village, and Rev. Lash of Woodbury.

The services were largely attended, not all being able to gain admission to the 
church. The remains were interred in Lakeside.

Mr. Tasker came to Odessa Township 35 years ago and at that time settled on the 
farm in West Odessa that he owned at the time of his death, but on which he has 
not lived for the past three years. Three years ago, or about that time he 
suffered a light stroke of paralysis, and after a brief illness he concluded 
that he would stop work and came to town to spend the remainder of his days in 
comfort and ease. He remained in comparatively good health here until a few 
months ago when he was taken with the illness that proved fatal, and which 
caused him so much suffering to the last. His death had been looked for for 
weeks, but a constitution of iron, it seems had held off the grim reaper with a 
determination that was almost beyond belief.

Mr. Tasker was converted to the life of a Christian in a meeting held at the 
West Odessa U.B. Church 29 years ago, and since that time, he has been a 
faithful and hard working member, holding above all else the principle of this 
church, and trying to live just as near his Savior as was possible to do. He has 
held the office of trustee and steward of that church for many years.

The last words of the pastor were true when 'he said "In his death, as a church, 
we have lost a faithful man of God; the wife a faithful and kind husband; the 
children, a good and kind father, and as we follow him to his last resting 
place, 'we can but say a good man gone."


Additional Comments:
Lakeside Cem.#2-184

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